Fuel-supply system



C. F. KETTERING.

FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED AUG-5,1918.

Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

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CHARLES F. KETTERING; DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TODELCO-LIGHT COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FUEL-SUPPLY SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan, 17, 1922 Applicationfiled August 5, 1918. Serial No. 248,272.

' ING, citizen of the United States of America,

residing at Dayton, county of Montgomery, State of Ohio, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Fuel-Supply Systems, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in fuel supply systems, andparticularly that type of fuel supply system used in connection withinternal combustion engines.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a fuel supply systemwhich includes an electrically operated priming device, which can becontrolled by a manually operable member located to suit the convenienceof the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fuel supply systemincluding a su plemental fuel tank located between tl e. source of fueland the carburetor of the engine in which a substantially constant headof fuel may be maintained, and to provide an electrically operated fuelpump for pumping fuel from the source of supply to the supplementaltank.-

Another object of the invention is to provide a fuel supply system inwhich the pump for supplying the supplemental fuel tank is controlledmanually or by the operation of the engine, said system includingprovisions whereby the pump will be automatically disabled when thelevel of fuel in the supplemental tank reaches a predetermined highpoint.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fuel supply systemincluding a signal device which, will indicate to the operator that thelevel of fuel in the supplemental tank is below normal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a common manually operablemember for effecting the operation of the primer and the operation ofthe pump, so that if the level of the fuel in the supplemental tank isinsuflicient for priming, the pump may be set into operation at the sametime that the primer is rendered effective to permit the engine to drawraw fuel from the supplemental tank for priming purposes.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings whereinforms of embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the relative position of thedifferent elements included in the present invention and theirrespective circuit connections.

Fig. -2'is a modified form of the electrically operated pump element.

In Fig. 1 there isshown an internal combustion engine 10, having anintake manifold 11, and a carburetor 12. The carburetor 12 is connectedto a supplemental fuel tank 30 by means of pipes 13 and 27. The pipe 27also connects the inlet of a priming device 20 with the supplementalfuel tank 30 while the outlet of the priming device is connected withthe intake manifold 11 by means of the pipe 27.

Included in this priming device 20 is an electro-magnet 21, adjustablysecured to the upper housing 22, thereof. A diaphragm 23, securely heldin position between the housing 22 and the lower housing 24 of thepriming device, is provided with a valve 25, adapted to fit within aseat 26 formed in the housing 24. As will be described hereinafter, thisval*'e 25 is electrically operated to permit the passage of fuel fromthe tank 30,

directly totheintake manifold 11 of the engine via the pipes 27 and 27.

The supplemental fuel tank 30, is provided with a float element 31,adjustably securedto a stem 32. The stem 32 is provided with \screwthreads which permit the float 31 to be screwed up or down on the stem,thereby permitting the float to be adjusted to any suitable height forpurposes hereinafter set forth. On the upper portion of the tank 30,there are secured two sets of contacts including two stationary contacts34 and'3'6, and two movable contacts 35 and 37. A projecting arm 33,secured to the Stem 32, is so formed that when the float 31 is raised orlowered by the fuel level in the tank 30, this arm 33 will tend to shiftthe movable contacts 35 and 37 out of or permit them to return intoengagement with their respective stationary contacts 34 and 36.

Any suitable signalling device 7 5, shown in the drawing as being anelectric light, is associated with the contacts 36 and 37 in such amanner that the status of the fuel level in the tank 30 is automaticallyshown.

Adjacent to the bottom of the tank 30 and formedintegral therewith is apipe 38 which is adapted to be secured to the electric fuel pump 40.

The electric fuel pump 40 includes an upper housing 41 and a lowerhousing 42; An electro-magnet 43, is adjustably secured to the housing41 while a diaphram 44 is held in position between the housings .41 and42. The lower housing 42 of the electric fuel pump 40 provides a chamber45 into and out of whichthe fuel is pumped when the diaphragm 44 isoperated by the electromagnet 43. The housing 42 is provided withpassage 46 in which are located ball checked valves 47 and '48 whichoperate to permit fuel to be drawn up from a main fuel supply tank 90,and to be forced into the supplemental chamber 30.

A manually operable push button 50 is I provided for closing thecontacts 51 and 52, and 52 and 53. These contacts are adapted tocomplete circuit connections between the storage battery 54 and theelectric priming device and fuel pump 40, as will be described later.

An engine operated timer 65, is provided with two pairs ofcontacts 61and 62 and a common contact closing element 63. The contacts 61 areadapted to close the circuit between the battery 54 and ignition coil58, while the contacts 62 are adapted to intermittently open and closethe circuit between the battery 54 and the pump 40. i

The operation of the invention is as 'follows: To start the engine 10,the ignition switch 56 is closed, thereby establishing a circuit throughbattery 54, wire 55, switch 56, wire 57, coil 58, wire 60, timer 65,ground connections 64 and 54 to battery. The ignition system is oerativeto deliver sparking impulses to t e spark plug of the engine 40through wire 59. To prime the engine, the

button 50 is pressed thereby completing a circuit through battery 54,wire 57, wire 66,

wire 72, terminal 28, magnet 21, terminal 29,

wire 73, contacts 51 and 52, wire 70, and 45 ground connections 71 and54 to battery 54.

This circuit having been completed, the

\ electro-magnet 21 will attract the diaphragm 23, thereby causing thevalve 25 to move away from the seat 26, and thus permit 50 the engine10, to draw the raw fuel from the supplemental fuel tank through pipes27 and 27 into the intake manifold of the engine to prime-the same.

. owever, due to' evaporation, or some 55 other cause, the fuel in thetank 30 may have become exhausted and the operator would then find itnecessary to replenish same. In order that the operator will notattemptto start the .engine when the tank 30 is empty -50 the signal light 75is provided. When the float element 31, located within the supplementalfuel supply tank is down. due to the absence of fuel in this tank, thecontacts 36 and 37 are in engaged position, per- 65 mitting current toflow from the battery 54 by wires 57 and 66 to the contact 37, contact36, wire 74, light 75 and back to the battery via ground connections 76and 54, thus lighting this light which signifies to the operator thatthe fuel is exhausted in the supplementalfuel tank 30. In order toreplenish this fuel supply, the operator intermittently depresses thebutton 50 which will permit currentto flow from the battery 54 by wire57, wire 66, contacts and 34, to the pump terminal 49. Thence thecurrent will flow through the electro-magnet 43, to terminal 49*, andthrough wire 68, wire 69, contacts 53 and 52 and back to the battery viaground connections 7 I and 54.

Current passing through the electro-magnet 43-will attract the diaphragm44 which will tend to draw fuel from the main fuel supply tank 90 intothe chamber 45 of the pump, due to the operation of the ball checkvalves 47 and 48 into closed and open positions, respectively. As soonas the current through the electrQ-ma et is discontinued due to therelease of t button 50 by the operator, the diaphragm will by virtue ofits elasticity flex back to normal position.

thereby tending to force the fuel in the chamber 45 into thesupplemental fuel tank 30 due to the operation of the check valves 47and 48 into open and closed positions, respectively. This pumpingoperation will be repeated with each intermittent operation of thebutton 50, resulting in raising the fuel level in tank 30.

lVhen the fuel in said tank 30 reaches a predetermined high level, thefloat element 31. rising with the fuel will cause the con tacts 36 and37 to become disengaged thereby breaking the circuit connection throughthe signal light 75, thus indicating that sufficient fuel has beenpumped into the tank 30 to ermit the engine to be primed. L

Q s soon as the engine becomes self actuating, the button 50 is releasedand the primer thereby thrown out of operation. Fuel will then pass tothe carburetor 12 from the supplemental fuel tank 30 through pipe 13.

The operation of the engine 10 will also cause the intermittent closingof contacts in order that the electrically operated fuel pump 40 may beoperated at any time that th engine lowers the fuel level to apredetermined point in the tank 30. If this happens the float element 31will cause the contacts 34 and 35to close. permitting current to passfrom the battery 54. through switch56, wire 57, wire 66, contacts 34 and35, terminal 49, electro-magnet 43. terminal 49*. wire 68, contacts 62.and back to the battery 54 via the ground connections 64 and 54. Due tothe shape of the common operating element 63, the above circuit willbeintermittently opened and closed with each rotation of the enginedriven timer 65 .34 and 35 to be closed; but the signal light contacts36 and 37 will beheld open until a relatively lower fuel level isreached.

Thus the signal lamp 75 will burn only when the fuel level in tank 30iisbelowlnormal. In Fig. 2 there is disclosed a modified form 80 of theelectrically operated pump.

In this modification a pair of contact elements 86 and 87 are connectedin series with the electro-magnet windings 83. A lug 85 is secured tothe upper contact element 86 and so positioned relative to the diaphragm84 that when said diaphragm is attracted out of its normal position bythe electro-magnet, it will contact with the lug 85 and tend to open theelectro-magnet circuit by breaking the contacts 86 and 87, therebydestroying the magnetic attraction of the diaphragm 84 by the magnet 83and causing the former to assume its normal position due to itselasticity and completing; the electro-magnet circuit. By using a pumpof this type, the intermmi-ttent operation of the push button 50 toobtain intermittent operation of the pump is eliminated as this modifiedform 80 will continue to operate as long as the push button 50 is heldin depressed position.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that a fuel su ply systemhas been provided which inclu es a priming device which can becontrolled by an electric button placed within convenient reach of theoperator. There has been provided a supplemental fuel tanklocatedbetween the source of fuel supply and the carburetor of the e'ngine inwhich a substantially constant head of fuel may be maintained so thatthe carburetor will be supplied with a correct amount of fuel, whetherthe automobile in which this system may be included is running on thelevel or up and down hill. There has been provided an electricallyoperated pump for supplying the tank with fuel, said pump beingcontrolled either manually or by the operation of the engine, and saidsystem including rovisions whereby the pump is automatically disabledwhen the level of the fuel reaches a predetermined high point. There isprovided a common manually operable controlling device which will renderthe primer operative to permit raw fuel to be drawn into the engine forpriming purposes, and which will atthe same time render the pumpoperative to supply the supplement fuel tank when level in said tank isbelow the level normally required for priming purposes.

There has been provided a signalling device which will indicate to theoperator when the fuelsupply system is below the normal. The fuel supplysystem embodied in the present invention is combined with the ignitionsystem of the engine in such a way that the timer cam performs thedouble function of operating the timer and controlling the pump. Therefor when the engine stops and fuel is no longer needed, the pumpwill cease to operate until the engine is started again, or untilmanually operated when the supply of fuel in the tank is below normal.

The term fuel supply tank used in the claims which follow refers to thesupplemental fuel tank 30 and not to the large tank 90 which constitutesthe source of fuel supply, nor to the small float chamber which isgenerally provided in the carburetor. In fact where the fuel supplysystem included in the present invention is used the carburetor floatchamber may be unnecessa lVhile the form of mechanism herein shown anddescribed constitutes a preferred form of embodiment of the invention,it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all comingwithin the scope of the claims which follow: v

1. In a fuel supply device, the combination with an engine having acarburetor, a fuel supply tank, and a by-pass from the tank to theengine; of an electrically oper ate'd priming device, including anelectromagnet and a diaphragm valve, controlled thereby to open thevalve and by-pass fuel from the'fuel supply tank, around the carburetor,to the engine for priming purposes? 2. In a fuel supply system, thecombina- .tion with an engine and a fuel .supply tank therefor; of apriming device assoclated with the tank and engine; afuel pump forsupplying the tank; and .common means for effecting the operation of-theprimer and pump.

3. In a fuel supply syste'm the combin'ation with an engine and. afuel'supply tank therefor; of a priming device associated with the tankand engine; a fuel pump adapted to be rendered operative bythe' 'actionof the engine for supplying the tank;

and common manually operable means for therefor: asource of current; ofan electrically operated priming device; an elecposes set forth.

s'pective of the state of operatioh circuit between "the source ofcurrent and the prlming and pumping devices for bringing both the latterinto'operation for purj 6. In a fuel supply device,the combination withan engine and'a fuelsupply tank therefor; of an ignition system for saidengineincluding an ignition coil, an electrically operated fuel pump; apriming device; a source of current; a common engine driven element forintermittently connecting the source of current with the ignition coiland with the fuel pump; and manual means for effecting the operation oftheprimer andthe pump.

T. In a fuel supply device, the combina tion withan engine; of a fuelsupply tank connected with the engine; a pump connected with the tank;and means to cause the pump to operate when the fuel in the tank reachesa predetermined low level irreof the en gine.

8. In a fuel supply device, the combination with an engine; of afuelsupply tank including a float element; a source of current; anelectrically operated fuel pump; and means associated with the floatelement in the fuel tank whereby the circuit between the source ofcurrent and the pump will be automatically completed when the fuel insaidl tank has reached a predetermined low leve 9. In a fuel supplysystem, the combination with an engine; of a: fuel tank associated withthe engine; a source of current: an electrically operated pump forsupplying fuel to said tank; circuit connections between the source ofcurrent andithe pump; a float element associated with said fuel tank:and means associated with the aforementioned float element whereby thecircuit connections between the source of current and the pump will bebroken when the fuel in the tank has reached a certain predeterminedhigh level.

- 10. In a fuel supply system, the combination with an engine; of a fuelsupply tank connected with the engine; a pump adapted to be operated tofill the fuel tank; a signal t. device; and means controlled by thelevel of fuel in the tank for bringing the pump into operation at acertain level and for causing connected with the engine; a source ofelectric current: an electrically operated pump for filling the fueltank; a signal device:

circuit connections between the source of current and the pump andsignal device; a

float element in the tank; and means associated with said float elementwhereby the circuit connections between the source of current and thepumpwill be made when the fuel reaches a predetermined low level, andthe circuit connections between the source of energy and the signaldevice will ,be made when the fuelin the tank reaches controlled by thelevel of fuel in the tank for causing the signal device to operate at apredetermined low level and for rendering the pump inoperative at apredetermined high level,

13. In a fuel supply system, the combination with an engine; of a fuelsupply tank connected with t e engine; a source of electrical'current; apump adapted to be opers.

ated to fill the fuel tank; signal device; and means controlled by thelevel of fuel in the tank for making connections between the source ofcurrent and the pump and signal device whereby the signal device will beantomatically operated when the fuel in. the

tank reaches a predetermined low level, and the pump will be stoppedwhen the fuel reaches a predetermined high level.

14. In a fuel supply system, the combination with an engine; of a fuelsupply tank connected with the engine; a fuel pump for filling the tank;a signal device; and means controlled by the fuel level in the tank forrendering the signal device ino erative at a predetermined high level,and or renderin the pump inoperative at a still higher leve 15. In afuel supply system, the combination with an en 'ne; of a fuel supplytank connected with t e engine; a source of electric current; anelectrically operatedv pump for filling the fuel tank; a. signal device;circuit connections between the source of current and the'pump andsignal device; and means controlled by the fuel level in the tank forcontrolling said circuit connections,

whereby the si nal device will be inoperative when the el reaches aredetermined high level, and the uni wil be inoperative when the fuel int e tank reaches a relatively higherlevel.

16. In a fuel suppl system, the combination with an engine 0 a fuelsupply tank an ignition system for said engine; a. source of electriccurrent; a signal device, circuit connections between the source ofcurrent and the signal device and ignition system; a

switch in the circuit connections controlled by the fuel level in thetank and adapted to be closed at a predetermined low level to permit thesignal device to be operated; and a manually, controlled switch forrendering Ill the ignition system operative and for causing the signaldevice to operate when the fuel in the tank is at a predetermined lowlevel, whereby to indicate the lack of fuel in the tank beforeattempting to start the engine.

17. In a fuel supply system, the combination with an engineaof a fuelsupply tank; an electrically operated fuel pump for filling said tank; asignal light; a source of electric current; means controlled by thelevel of the fuel in the tank for making and breaking circuitconnections between the source of cur and the signal device and pump,saidmeans th tank for making and breaking circuit being adjustablerelatively to the float, whereby the predetermined level at which saidconnections are made or broken may be altered.

ilk In a fuel supply system, the combination with ,an engine of a fuelsupply tank; an electrically operated fuel pump for filling said tank; asource of. electric current; means controlled by the level of the fuelin the tank for making and breaking circuit connections between thesource of current,

and the pump, said means being adjustable whereby thepredetermined levelat which said connections are made or broken may be altered.

20. In a fuelsupply system, the combina tion with an engine; of a fuelsupply tank; a signal light; a source of electric current; meanscontrolled by the level of the fuel in connectionsbetween the source ofcurrent and-the si nal device, said means being adjustable w ereby "thepredetermined level at which said connections are made or broken may bealtered.

21. In a fuel supply system, the combination with an engine and a fuelsupply tank therefor; of a battery type ignition system for the engineincluding a current source, an ignition coil and a timer includinga pairof cooperating contacts for connectlng the coil and current source and atimer cam for operating the contacts; an electrically operated fuelpump; and circuit connections between the fuel pump and current sourceincluding a switch 'arranggd to be intermitv tently operated by saidtimer cam.

22. In a fuel supply system, the combination with an engine and a fuelsupply tank therefor; of a main fuel reservoir; a fuel pump connectedbetween the, reservoir and tank; a carburetor connected between the tankand engine intake; a primer connected between the tank and engineintake; and a manually operable device for controlling the operation ofthe primer alone or of the primer and pump together.

23. In a fuel supply system, the combination with an engine and afuelsupply tank therefor; of a main fuel reservoir; an electric fuelpump connected between the reservoir and tank; a carburetor connectedbetween the tank and engine intake; 2. primer connected between the tankand engine intake; a current source; and a manually operable device forconnecting the current source with the primer alone, or with both theprimer-and pump.

24. In a fuel supply system, the combination with an engine having anintake and a carburetor; of a main fuel reservoir located below thecarburetor; a fuel supply tank located above the carburetor; a primingdevice connected between the engine intake and said tank; a pumpconnected between the reservoir and tank; engine controlled means foreffecting the operation of the pump; and manual means for efi'ecting theoperation of the primer or of both the primer and pump.

h In a fuel supply system, the combination with an engine; of a fuelsupply tank connected with the engine; a source of electric current; anelectrically operated pump for filling the fuel tank; a signal device;circuit connections between the source of current and the pump andsignal-device; a float element in the tank; andmeans associated withsaid float element whereby the circuit connections between the source ofcurrent and the pump will be made when the fuel reaches a predeterminedlow level, and the circuit connections between the source of energy andthe signal device will be made when the fuel in the tank reaches a levelrelatively lower than that controlling the CHARLES F, KETTERING.'Witnesses:

J. W. MCDONALD, H. E. Somnmmncnn.

tank whereby

